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Birthday Parties in New Jersey for Adventurous Kids

Angry Birds Not So Mini Golf – Secaucus

Head to American Dream's Angry Birds Not So Mini Golf Club to enjoy 18 holes with Red, the pigs, and your birthday crew. Packages include 10 guests (maximum of 35 total attendees). Note that all guests–both adults and children–require a ticket and food can be brought in.

Battleship New Jersey – Camden

Celebrate aboard Battleship New Jersey for an overnight adventure. Eat dinner and breakfast at the chow line, take a guided tour of the Battleship, and sleep in the same bunks once used by the crew of the USS New Jersey.

Black River & Western Railroad – Ringoes

BR&W birthday packages feature a short ride on a restored caboose or 1920s-style club car. After the ride, party away at a private room in the Ringoes Station.

The Gagasphere – Statewide 

Obsession with this fast-paced game is spreading fast. If your child has caught the Gaga bug, the Gagasphere comes to you. Kids ages 6 and up can play Gaga with up to 20 of their friends. Good news for newbies: Gaga Pros come with the rental to teach and run the game.

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Defy gravity with your friends at an iFly birthday party.

iFly – Paramus

Kids over 3 can defy gravity at iFly, an indoor skydiving center. Guests strap on a helmet and flying suit, take a lesson, and then experience the thrill of flight. These parties are sure to blow everyone away.

Jersey Shore Pirates – Brick

Turn your party into a gang of swashbuckling pirates as they set sail on a "real" pirate ship called the Sea Gypsy II. Jersey Shore Pirates takes care of face painting and pirate tattoos, plus a loot bag full of sunken treasure for each guest to take home. Watch them battle Pirate Pete with water cannons, raise the battle flag, and hoist sunken treasure from the high seas. Some packages include a private cruise and the use of the party room.

RELATED: 13 New Jersey Bakeries Serving Over-the-Top Birthday Cakes

Hit the beach for a surf party with Pink Pineapple Surf.

Pink Pineapple Surf – Manasquan

Enjoy a seasonal party on the beach at sunset with Pink Pineapple Surf, which specializes in surfing lesson parties for girls. Pink Pineapple provides everything your party needs to catch some waves (soft top surfboards, rash guards, wetsuits, and leashes) plus a tent, Hawaiian party decorations, pink beach chairs, pool floats, and more. Just bring the food and your surfer girls. When it's too cool to surf, have your very own skater girl party.

Top Golf – Edison, Mount Laurel

It won't be hard to get in the swing of things at a two-hour golfing party. Enjoy the driving range while snacking on your choice of breakfast or lunch items served right in the golf bay. Add-ons include golf lessons, goodie bags, and dessert.

Birthday Parties in New Jersey for Animal and Nature Lovers

Adventure Aquarium – Camden

Got a shark lover or fish fanatic? This one's for you. Parties at this fantastic aquarium include admission for up to 20 guests (adults and kids), up to 2 hours in the Skyline Room, pizza and beverages, plus a wild animal encounter. You'll also get to meet three animals up-close with a biologist.

Alstede Farms – Farm

This famous PYO farm also offers great birthday parties, where a Farm Activity Package includes a tour guide/farmer and hay wagon rides. Get a private tour of the farm and do a fun, farm-related activity: planting, picking, or visiting animals. You'll also have time for refreshments in a reserved party area with picnic tables and benches. You can add on pony rides for an additional fee.

Field Station: Dinosaurs – Leonia

Take a step back in time and let your birthday party crew walk the dinosaur-lined trails at Field Station: Dinosaur. You'll receive VIP seating for The Great Dinosaur Whodunnit! show and the birthday child gets a photo opportunity with the mighty T. Rex, plus a special hat to remember the day. All guests receive a take-home gift.

Kafka Farms – Watchung

Have a unicorn birthday party at Kafka Farms, where a "unicorn" pony is adorned with glitter and ribbons to make the birthday child's day. Host this special pony ride party at the farm or your own home. A petting zoo option is also offered.

The Lizard Guys – Northern and Central New Jersey

Ready to take a walk on the wild side? The Lizard Guys travel to much of Northern and Central New Jersey with its menagerie of five to eight turtles, lizards, snakes, frogs, and bugs. Kids hear a funny 45-minute educational presentation about the animals tailored to the age of the party guests.

Rizzo's Wildlife World – Flanders

Two-hour parties at this wildlife center include 20 minutes in the animal gallery with a wildlife educator, ferret fun time or feeding, a 50-minute private animal show, and 45 minutes in a party room. Bring your own food.

SeaQuest – Woodbridge

Guests explore the interactive animal exhibits at SeaQuest plus enjoy a private encounter for the group with an animal of the birthday kid's choosing. You'll get to use the party room for an hour and 30 minutes (bring your own food). Cool add-ons include nibbling cups for the birds, feeding tokens for the animals, and more. A VIP gift for the birthday child and goodie bags with souvenirs are included for all party guests.

Tom’s Lake at Captain Kilroy Park – Wayne

In the summer months, book a party at this man-made lake and enjoy swimming, a sandy beach, and the Wibit play area. Packages include pizza, ice cream, and soft drinks for guests.

Turtle Back Zoo – Livingston

Turtle Back offers unforgettable parties for children. Rent out the gazebo, the beautiful carousel area, a picnic table, or a classroom and have a wild party. Lots of catering options are available and you can order goodie bags, too.

RELATED: Kids' Birthday Party Entertainers in NJ that Come To You

Mad Science brings the party to you with exciting demonstrations and experiments.

Mad Science – Statewide

With themes like space, superhero, and slime, these 45-60-minute parties are held at the venue of your choice and are perfect for kids ages 4-12. Expect an exciting show (think fire, air pressure, chemistry, and static electricity demos), and you can add additional science fun like a rocket launch, cotton candy making, and dry ice.

Birthday Parties in New Jersey for Little Scientists

Arena Stem – Paramus

Expect interactive, engaging, and competitive fun at these parties. Pick three areas to challenge party guests in games like remote control speedboats, drone flying, and slot car racing. Some packages include pizza and beverages.

Robert J. Novins Planetarium – Toms River

Blast off with your buddies at the Robert J. Novins Planetarium. A private party includes a 45-minute show (choose a planetarium film or laser show) and one hour in a party room (bring your own food). At the end of your show, the planetarium programs a personalized “Happy Birthday” message on the dome.

Birthday Parties for Creative Kids in New Jersey

Bach to Rock – Denville, Wayne

Rock out at Bach to Rock with a birthday party recording session. All your guests learn to play a song on the keyboard, guitar, bass, drums, or other rhythm instrument and everyone leaves with a CD of the birthday band, recorded and engineered at the studio. Karaoke parties and Rock City parties (geared toward ages 4-6) are also available.

Montclair Culinary Academy – Montclair

Montclair Culinary Academy has unique parties for kids who love to cook and bake. Just pick a theme (Asian, Mexican, pizza, brunch, sushi, or bake and decorate) and kids learn everything they need to make some delicious eats. Most parties include a cake and cupcake baking component.

Rhino Theatre 237 – Pompton Lakes

Have a birthday party starring your birthday child at this venue. Its theater arts parties include theater games, favors, a rehearsal, and a party performance. Choose from themes like the red carpet, Broadway, princess, and superhero.

Photos courtesy of the venues

Originally published in 2019.